Most innovative Whisky launches 2023

Certainly, 2023 has been an exciting year for whisky lovers around the world. In a time where more and more new distilleries pop-up its time to make a difference and some distilleries and brands went the extra mile when it comes to innovative products. We have curated a list of the Top 10 most innovative whiskies from the last year and made a prediction if 2024 will continue this trend.

1. Legent Yamazaki Cask Finish Blend:

This limited edition whiskey is a collaborative effort between Jim Beam's master distiller, Fred Noe, and Suntory's chief blender, Shinji Fukuyo was one of the most stunning projects in 2023. It combines the flavors of Sherry-aged Bourbon with the influence of Yamazaki Japanese whisky cask finishing, resulting in a complex and rich expression.

2. Talisker Glacial Edge 45-Year-Old:

Talisker, a classy Islay Scotch brand, embarked on a unique experiment with the Glacial Edge 45-Year-Old. The whiskey was finished in ice-fractured oak, a first for the Diageo-owned brand. The oak casks were exposed to sub-zero temperatures and Arctic winds in Canada, which fractured the wood and increased its surface area, imparting spicier and sweeter aromas to the whisky.

3. Maker's Mark Cellar Aged:

Maker's Mark, known for its taste-based approach to aging, introduced Cellar Aged, a cask strength blend of whiskeys aged 11 and 12 years. This annual limited release was an immediate hit among whiskey enthusiasts and the 2023 also came with a boost of great flavors.

4. Method and Madness Garryana Oak:

Method and Madness, an Irish whiskey brand, made history by releasing a whiskey finished in Quercus Garryana white oak casks from the Pacific Northwest. This rare oak imparts a unique, complex, and spicy profile to the whiskey, making it stand out in the world of Irish whiskey. We do expect a lot more interesting releases from Method and Madness in 2024

5. Waterford Peated: Lacken and Peated: Woodbrook:

Waterford Distillery pushed the boundaries of Irish whiskey by launching two of the most heavily peated expressions ever, Lacken and Woodbrook, as part of its Arcadian Farm Origins series. These whiskeys are bottled at rates of 57 PPM and 74 PPM respectively, showcasing rich and complex flavors while highlighting the nuances of their respective terroirs and mark irish whisky on the map once more.

6. Johnnie Walker Blue Label Elusive Umami:

Johnnie Walker collaborated with Michelin-starred chef Kei Kobayashi to create an umami-forward version of their iconic Blue Label whisky. Selected from one in 25 casks at the peak of maturation, this release emphasizes the elusive umami profile in whiskey. This collaboration just showcases that the Johnnie Walker Brand is willing to go the extra mile creating more innovative launches.

7. Midleton Very Rare Forêt de Tronçais:

This whiskey from the Midleton Very Rare range is the result of a unique journey to the Tronçais forest in France. Master distiller Kevin O'Gorman and his team discovered and air-dried rare T5 oak casks for five years before using them, adding depth and complexity to the whiskey. Coming in at a staggering 5.000€ per bottle - this limited release is something for true irish whisky collectors.

8. Powers Irish Rye:

Powers made waves in the whiskey world by producing the world's first 100% Irish rye whiskey. This innovative whisky strikes a balance between the earthy, peppery character of rye and the sweetness from maturation in American oak casks, offering a unique taste experience.

9. WhistlePig Alfa Romeo F1 Team Stake Barrel:

The third release in WhistlePig's PiggyBack Legends Series underwent an unconventional aging process. It was tested in a racing team's wind tunnel in Switzerland and subjected to varying levels of G-force, which the producer claims accelerated the interaction between the whiskey and the wood, resulting in a unique flavor profile inspired by Formula One and marking the second F1 release after McLaren collaborated with Jack Daniels.

10. Brother Justus American Single Malt Cold-Peated Whiskey:

Minnesota-based distillery Brother Justus introduced an innovative cold-peated whiskey, created using the Aitkin County Process. Unlike traditional peated whiskeys, this method involves finishing the whiskey with peat rather than smoking the malted barley before distillation. As a result, the whiskey has a delicate peat expression and unique flavor profile, setting it apart from traditional peated whiskeys on the market.

Conclusion:

These unique whiskey releases offer a diverse range of flavors and production methods, showcasing the creativity and innovation within the world of whiskey. We do believe that we will see even more crazy, innovative, breath-taking releases in 2024, which will be truly the year on innovation.